Yes

Everyone assembled in the bar now that Quistis and Tifa were awake. Jessie had put up the closed sign and was passing out drinks for everyone when Tifa and Cecil walked in. They took their seats at one of the few tables and the meeting began with Biggs giving a report.

“Corneo’s men or either dead or hiding. We managed to rescue everyone and the Big Bro at the gym and the dress maker has taken in the girls and is keeping them safe. Sector Six is safe for now, but that doesn’t get us any closer to leaving Midgar and finding Chaos.”

“Actually it does,” cut in Tifa. “With Chaos tearing the worlds apart, the president of Shinra has locked down the train to the plate. The gates leading out of Midgar from the slums have been locked down for years, but there are still ways to leave from up top. With Sector Six now open to us, we can take the hidden path I had mentioned before without Corneo’s men getting in the way.”

“I’ve never heard this path until you brought it up. I’m still worried about how safe it is,” Jessie said with some uncertainty.

“Trust me on this Jessie. I took this path a long time ago with Cloud and Barret. It is a bit of a challenge to climb, but we can make it.”

“How dangerous will it be? Is there no other possible route?”

“Not that I know of, and other than possibly falling, it isn’t guarded at all,” Tifa answered Cecil’s question. It was Ace that spoke up next.

“If it isn’t guarded, then we shouldn’t have any problem. We’re all reasonably fit and you can act as our guide.”

“That sounds like a plausible plan to me as well,” Fran added.

“Um… Will it be tough for me?”

“You should be fine Wedge,” Tifa assured the tubby man.

After a few more questions, the group set about making preparations to leave. Weapons and supplies were gathered together and Jessie took Biggs out to buy some potions and other vital supplies. With their path to the top of the plate decided, the next question was where they would go next. Water on one side, a jungle on another, a vast plain leading who knew where, and a mysterious icy cave, were all the choices they had. There was no clear hint on which way would lead to Chaos and their final battle. After Jessie returned from shopping, Tifa joined her in the kitchen and dinner was prepared. When the meal was done, everyone began to drift off to bed. Cecil started to follow Tifa, but she stopped him.

“Cecil… I want you. I know I do, and I don’t care if it is real attraction of what Chaos has done to this world messing with me. But after what I just went through… I don’t think I’m up for it tonight. Can you please….”

“I understand. I’m sorry, I’m really just in the same boat as you. We both have someone else, but our attraction is something I can’t ignore either. But you are right. We need to hold off until you are ok.”

Tifa gave Cecil a grateful hug and headed to her room. Cecil gave a frustrated sigh and headed for the hidden elevator.

“Where is the exit? I know it’s around here somewhere…”

Corneo was lost. His normal exit from the sewers was gone. It had collapsed after Chaos moved Midgar, so now he was trying to find his secondary exit. The problem was that he hadn’t gone this way in some time, and he was almost sure that he had taken the wrong path. He was about to round another corner when he heard voices.

“It would seem that this is the best way out.”

“Let’s report this to the others. The time of our ascension is at hand.”

Corneo peeked around the corner and found that a man and woman in weird uniforms were speaking. They were next to a rather large opening that seemed to lead into the now shut down train system. He didn’t recognize the dark uniforms with the somewhat blue lighting running through them. He was glad to see a way out, but these two seemed odd. They were not ordinary Shinra soldiers…

Corneo started to take a step back, but the blade of a sword slid over his shoulder and gently sliced into his neck. Corneo stopped and began to shudder with fear, even before he glanced over at the blade. The red blade that he had only heard of one man using.

“What have we here,” Genesis asked lazily.

“G-G-Genesis? How? I thought Shinra had you killed.

“You would be surprised what can happen in this new world. Now, what shall I do with you? I have things to do.”

“Wait! I might be useful!”

“Oh? Do you have soldiers? Information?”

“Not soldiers no, but… I might know where some of Shinra weapon caches are. And I can’t die yet. I have a horny slut I want to reclaim.”

Genesis didn’t really think this man could be useful. But he didn’t want to kill more people than he had to. He didn’t trust Chaos, and there were already going to be a lot of deaths just from unleashing Deepground. But unless he finished these “Heroes” off quickly, he wouldn’t have a chance of setting things right. No, this man would be useless, but there was no point in killing him unless needed.

“Alright, show me these caches. And Welcome to Deepground.”